City of Nantes

The city of Nantes is committed to a sustainable development approach with its citizens. A member since 1996, Nantes is also part of the Board of Directors of Energy Cities. The city was named European Green Capital in 2013, and hosted the European Climate Conference and the Climate Chance Summit in March 2022. The 33 measures of the “Nantes, metropolis in transition” roadmap enable everyone to act to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through a fair and collective transition.

Cooperating with citizens to make progress towards a more sustainable city

In order to accelerate its transition, the City and the Metropolis have chosen to leave ample room for experimentation and concrete action by local stakeholders. For its Climate-Energy Plan, the city organised nearly 200 days of Great Citizen Debate on Energy Transition in 2016. This debate was steered by an independent and 100% citizen-led commission, and the resulting 33 commitments adopted by the people of Nantes and the City of Nantes serve as a basis for a collective climate transition.

Thanks to the collective effort, Nantes hopes to achieve a decarbonized future, without energy or food waste. It is also preparing for the consequences of climate change on the population.

To meet the challenges of the future, the city of Nantes is investing in the solidarity economy to support innovation, employment and cooperation as part of a sustainable development policy. As a result, since February 2019, the “French Impact Territory” has selected the city.

Better housing in Nantes

Nantes has three ecodistricts in previously-neglected areas of the city (one on the island of Nantes, one near the train station and the third in the northeast of the city). These districts provide affordable housing adapted to ecological standards. They also aim to counter urban sprawl by redeveloping neglected areas of the city.

To combat fuel poverty, Nantes Métropole has set up the Service local d’intervention pour la maîtrise des énergies (Local Intervention Service for Energy Control – SLIME). In 2021, the structure carried out over 200 free diagnostic visits to the most vulnerable households. A housing solidarity fund has also helped 1,656 Nantes households. Finally, eco-apartment workshops are offered, in which  206 residents are taking part.

Accessibility to change habits

The City and Nantes Métropole wish to reduce by half the consumption and CO₂ emissions per inhabitant by 2030. To this end, they have established an Urban Transport Plan (PDU) “for a more accessible metropolis in every respect”. Nantes has launched the construction of new tramway, busway and Navibus lines. In addition, the city has made its public transport free on weekends and adapted it for people with disabilities. It encourages intermodality and the use of bicycles by developing services and infrastructures.

Finally, Nantes is encouraging the people of Nantes to turn to sustainable food on a daily basis. School cafeterias and canteens will have to serve two vegetarian meals per week and to use ¾ organic or local products. Citizens can create collective vegetable gardens in the city centre and around Nantes. This gives struggling families a way to reduce their carbon footprint and their expenses by growing healthy products. To date, 1,200 shared gardens have been created and 200 are being planned.

Source: “Nantes, metropolis in transition” roadmap; “33 commitments for the energy transition” web page on the official website of the City and Nantes Metropole